Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
May
Tradition 5 · 31 readings
Tradition 5
"Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
May 1
Our Real Reason for Existence
the threat
May 2
Another Alcoholic to Talk To
before the tradition
May 3
The Alcoholic Who Still Suffers
the threat today
May 4
The Card Players
how a group breaks it
May 5
No Axes to Grind
how it gets captured
May 6
Straight A.A.
the threat
May 7
A First Class Prospect
before the tradition
May 8
A Spiritual Entity
the threat today
May 9
The Less Business, the Better
how a group breaks it
May 10
As No One Else Can
how it gets captured
May 11
Bankrupt Idealists
the threat
May 12
The Prime Object
before the tradition
May 13
Carry This Message
the threat today
May 14
The Most Sordid Spot
how a group breaks it
May 15
Stop Preaching
how it gets captured
May 16
Heaven Knows What Else
the threat
May 17
Our First Failure
before the tradition
May 18
But One
the threat today
May 19
Tumors and Tapeworms
how a group breaks it
May 20
No Sole Vocation
how it gets captured
May 21
Schemes to Do Good
the threat
May 22
So Freely Given
before the tradition
May 23
Anything Whatever
the threat today
May 24
Would Disintegrate
how a group breaks it
May 25
Never Force Yourself
how it gets captured
May 26
The Distant Alcoholic
the threat
May 27
Twos and Threes
before the tradition
May 28
He Talked My Language
the threat today
May 29
The Telephone
how a group breaks it
May 30
Without Charge or Obligation
how it gets captured
May 31
Everyone in That Town
the threat
JanuaryTradition 1 · liveFebruaryTradition 2 · liveMarchTradition 3 · liveAprilTradition 4 · liveMayTradition 5 · liveJuneTradition 6 · liveJulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · live
Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).